Rubber rail seat for track structure and the like



N. K. MOSES Jan. 3, E957 RUBBER RAIL SEAT FOR TRACK STRUCTURE AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1964 flmw Kflfmzw BY Z Z ATTORITEE N. K. MOSES Ham. 3, 1967 RUBBER RAIL SEAT FOR TRACK STRUCTURE AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 25, 1964 INVENTOR may Kflfozfs' WW %/QZZ@/- ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiiice 3,235,7h Patented Jan. 3, 1967 3,295,760 RUBBER RAIL SEAT FOR TRACK STRUCTURE AND THE LIKE Nelson K. Moses, Ashtabula, Ohio, assignor to Railroad Rubber Products, Inc., Ashtabula, Ohio, a corporation of Florida Filed Feb. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 347,203 6 Claims. (Cl. 238-483) The present invention relates to an improved track structure for rairoads or the like and, more particularly, to an improved rail seat capable of supporting trains travelling at high speeds and/or capable of providing insulation from the track-supporting structure.

In my prior United States application, serially numbered 93,979, filed May 7, 1961, now abandoned, there is disclosed an insulating rubber rail seat made of an improved insulating material capable of insulating the rail from the track-supporting structure against at least a 40,000 volt potential. The rail seat disclosed in my aforementioned copending application cushioned the impact loads of the rolling stock as well as providing an insulating rail seat as mentioned above, but such a rail seat had limited use in certain track structure installations.

In the copending application of Nelson K. Moses and Robert A. McClung, serially numbered 273,135, and filed April 15, 1963, now Patent No. 3,223,328, there is disclosed a track structure for railroads or the like wherein a rubber rail seat cooperating with a spring steel clip is used to support and anchor traction rails on a rail-supporting structure such as a foundation. The foundation may be either wooden ties on the usual road bed of rock ballast or the foundation may be of concrete pads, beams or the like on the usual road bed or a concrete road bed. The present invention is an improvement in rail seat design over the rail seat disclosed in each of the aforementioned applications, as well as an improvement in the arrangement of a track structure for anchoring traction rails to a track-supporting structure.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved track structure in which traction rails are anchored to and supported by a track structure, and thus capable of accommodating heavy traflic of rolling stock or fast-moving trafric of rolling stock.

Ancillary to the preceding object, it is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved type of resilient rail seat for use with the immediately preceding track structure, the improved rail seat being provided with means to prevent the same from moving longitudinally due to action of heavy tralfic on the track structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved resilient rail seat capable of cushioning impact loads caused by rolling stock, the rail seat being easily insertable onto the base flange of a traction rail and positively secured against creeping with respect to the track-supporting structure. A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved rail seat for use with clip-type anchors, the rail seat having means thereon cooperating with the clip-type anchor to prevent the rail seat from moving longitudinally in either direction due to vibrations or waves set up by rolling stock.

Ancillary to the immediately preceding object, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a resilient rail seat which does not have a tendency to tear or crack when it is inserted onto a base flange of a traction rail, the rail seat having long life even when exposed to the elements.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a track structure in which the rail seat is preformed and resilient, the rail seat being inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install, the repair and re-placement being reduced to a minimum, thus reducing maintenance expenditures.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully in the following specification, claims and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a perspective view, partially in cross section, of a track structure made in accordance with the present invention, the traction rail being omitted from its position within the rail seat for purposes of clarity;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, the cross section of a typical traction rail being illustrated in position within the rail base flange cavity of the improved rail seat;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of resilient rail seat similar to that disclosed in FIGURES 1 and 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a further modification of a resilient rail seat, the rail seat being illustrated as mounted on a wooden tie and being somewhat similar to the seat shown in FIGURES l and 2, as well as the modified seat shown in FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like character or reference numerals represent like or similar parts and in particular to FIGURE 1, the track structure of the present invention is generally designated by the numeral 10 and is supported on the usual road bed of rock ballast (not shown) or a concrete road bed as now being used in present day rapid transit systems (not shown). In more detail, the track structure of the present invention includes a foundation 12 having an upper track supporting surface 14, the foundation 12 being concrete, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, or the usual wooden ties as shown at 12' in FIGURE 4. When the foundation 12 is concrete it may be a concrete beam of the type disclosed in the aforementioned Moses and McClung application, Ser. No. 273,135, now Patent No. 3,223,328 or it may be concrete pads, ties, or the like.

In FIGURES 1 and 2, the track-supporting structure 10 is provided with a steel rail plate 116, the rail plate being substantially identical to that disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Moses and McClung, Ser. No. 273,135, now Patent No. 3,223,328.

A preformed resilient rail seat 18 supported on the steel plate 16 is adapted to receive the rail base flange 20 of the usual traction rail 22. The improved resilient rail seat or pad 18 is made of an elastomeric material such as natural rubber, a combination of natural rubber and synthetic rubber, synthetic rubber, or the like. Because of its unusual shape, that is, a transverse cross sectional shape complementary to the rail base flange or a shape essentially conforming to the contours of the rail base flange, the rail seat or pad 18 is usually molded in order to reduce the cost of production In more detail, the resilient preformed rail seat 18 is a pad having a rail base flange-receiving cavity or groove 21 in its upper surface and extending longitudinally thereof. As shown in the drawings, the pad 18 is of unitary construction, that is, it i all in one piece. The cavity or groove 21 in the top surface of the rail seat or pad 18 is provided with undercut longitudinal edge portions 23 which define a pair of lips 24 overlying a portion of the rail base flange-receiving cavity 21, the lips 24 having their inner edges spaced from each other at least a distance equal to the thickness of the web of the rail 22. The lips 24 rise at an angle as shown and are each integrally connected to downwardly extending vertical Walls 26 which, in turn, are connected integrally with the base 28 of the pad 18. As shown in the drawings, the base 28 is of one piece or unitary construction and is essentially flat, having upper and lower planar surfaces 3ft and 32 respectively. The base 28 of the pad 18 is provided with the upwardly facing planar surface 30 for engaging the bottom of the rail base flange 20, and the lower downwardly facing planar surface 32 for engaging the upper surface of the steel rail plate 16.

As shown in FIGURES l and 2, transversely extending shoulders 34 and 36 are provided at each end of the resilient rail seat or pad 18 and are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of the steel rail plate 16 so that they engage the transverse edges of the plate 16 and thus positively retain the pad 18 in position on the plate 16. A spring steel clip 38 having an end portion 40 engaging the upper surface of lips 24 is substantially identical in construction to the steel clip disclosed in the aforementioned Moses and McClung application, Serial No. 273,135. It will be noted that the spring steel clip 38 is held in position by anchor bolts 42, the outer edge of the clip 33 being restrained by a portion or flange 44 struck-out of the plate 16.

In order to insure that the pad or rail seat 13 will not creep longitudinally in either direction, the pad is provided along each wall 26 and lip 24 with at least one rib or shoulder 48. It will be noted that the rib or shoulder 48 on one side of the pad 18 engages or abuts one clip 38 on one side to prevent longitudinal movernent of the .pad in one direction whereas the other rib or shoulder 48 on the other side of the pad 18 engages or abuts the other clip 38 on the opposite side to prevent longitudinal movement of the pad in an opposite direction.

It will now be seen that the arrangement disclosed in FIGURES 1 and 2 is such that the pad 18 is positively prevented from creeping in either longitudinal direction by means of the ribs 48 engaging the clips 31%, as well as by the transverse shoulders 34 and 36 at either end engaging the plate 16.

Additionally, it will be noted that the upper planar surface 36 of the base 28 is provided with a plurality of closely spaced longitudinally extending grooves 50. The grooves 50 function to provide room for the flow of material when a static load is applied by the traction rail 22 to the bed. Also, the grooves 50 provide for flexing of the pad 118 so as to enable it to be slipped on over the rail base flange 20 of the traction rail 22.

Along the upper edge of each of the lips 24 there is provided an upwardly and longitudinally extending short vertical flange 52. The vertical flange 52, which has a height at least as great as the thickness of the clips 38, assists in shielding the traction rail 22 from the end of the clip and, thus, aids in providing a rail seat which can function as an insulating rail seat.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, there is disclosed a modification of the pad 18 of FIGURE 1. In more detail, the pad 1% is substantially similar to the pad 18 except that it is provided with additional ribs 49 spaced from the ribs 48' by a distance equal to the Width of a clip. It will be noted that the pair of ribs 48' and 49 on one side of the pad 18' is offset longitudinally with respect to the pair of ribs 4-8 and 49 on the other side of the pad 18 and this staggered arrangement is provided where a rail plate is used and it is necessary to suit the particular pad 18 for the mounting holes provided in that rail plate.

The modification shown in FIGURE 4 discloses an arrangement of the resilient rail seat 18 wherein the seat is used on a wooden tie 12 or the like without a rail plate therebeneath. In this particular arrangement, the upwardly facing planar surface 311" of the pad 13" is provided with longitudinally extending grooves 50" as in the modification shown in FIGURES 1 and 3. However, the bottom planar surface 32 is also provided with longitudinally extending grooves 51 as there are no transverse shoulders on this modification. The grooves 51 provide for a flush seat on the top surface of the tie 12" as well as assist in making the pad quite flexible so that it can be easily assembled around the base flange of a traction rail. When it is intended to use the rail seat 18" on wooden ties and the same is provided with a pair of ribs or shoulders 48" and 49" on each side of the same, the ribs or shoulders 48" and 49" on one side are mounted directly opposite to the ribs or shoulders on the other side as the clips may be mounted directly opposite to one another.

As now apparent, the present invention provides a new and novel type of track structure and resilient rail seat therefor which fully and effectively satisfies the advantages and objects of the invention heretofore described and illustrated in the drawings. However, the foregoing specific embodiments of the invention maybe subject to some changes without departing from the spirit of the invention. For this reason, the terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of description and not limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination: a traction rail having a base flange; a supporting structure for said traction rail; a preformed resilient pad between said traction rail and said supporting structure, said resilient pad being of unitary construction and having a rail base flange-receiving cavity in its upper surface for receiving the .base flange of said rail, the flange-receiving cavity being defined by a pair of lips on said pad overlying the marginal portions of the base flange of said rail, a vertical wall extending upwardly along each of the marginal edges of the marginal por tions of the base flange, and a unitary base portion underlying the base flange, the flange-receiving cavity being defined by a pair of lips on said pad whieh ere tend upwardly to said longitudinally extending groove, a vertical wall extending downwardly from the lower portion of each of said lips, and a unitary base portion, said base portion having upper and lower planar sur= faces and said vertical Walls being connected at theii lower end to the base portion and at their upper ends to the respective lips, said vertical walls being connected at their lower ends to the base portion and at their upper ends to the respective lips; an anchoring clip for each lip, each clip having a portion overlying and bear= ing against the upper surface of the lip; means to anchor each clip to said supporting structure; and means inte= rgral with said pad and extending outwardly therefrom on either side thereof for engaging said clips and pre= venting longitudinal movement of said pad in either di= rection, said means for engaging said clips including at least one rib extending up one vertical wall and continuing on the upper surface of one lip, and at least one first second rib extending up the other vertical wall and continuing along the upper surface of the other lip, said first rib engaging one clip and preventing longitudinal movement of said .pad in one direction and said second rib engaging the other clip and preventing longitudinal movement in the opposite direction.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said supporting structure includes a wooden tie and in which the base portion of said pad is provided with longitudinally extending grooves on its upper and its lower surface.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which the supporting structure includes a foundation having an upper rail supporting surface, a steel rail plate supported on the upper surface of said foundation, and in which the base portion of said pad has downwardly extending transverse shoulders at each end thereof for engaging said rail plate to further prevent longitudinal movement of. said pad.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said foundation is concrete.

5. A rail seat made of a resilient material and comprising: a preformed resilient pad, said resilient pad being of unitary construction and having a rail base flangereceiving cavity in its upper surface for receiving the base flange of a traction rail, the flange-receiving cavity being defined by a pair of lips on said pad overlying the marginal portions of the base flange of said rail, a vertical wall extending upwardly along each of the marginal edges of the marginal portions of the base flange, and a unitary base portion having upper and lower planar surfaces, said base portion underlying the base flange and said vertical Walls being connected at their lower ends to the base portion and at their upper ends to the respective lips, and means integral with said resilient pad and extending outwardly therefrom on either side thereof for engaging anchoring clips which can be anchored to a supporting structure for said traction rail which underlies the said resilient pad for preventing longitudinal movement of said pad in either direction, said means for engaging the anchoring clips including at least a first rib extending up one vertical Wall and continuing on the upper surface of one lip, and at least a second rib extending up the other vertical wall and continuing along the upper surface of the other lip, said first rib engaging an anchoring clip and preventing longitudinal movement of said part in one direction and said second rib engaging the other anchoring clip and preventing longitudinal movement in the opposite direction.

6. A rail seat as claimed in claim 5 in which said pad has a transversely extending shoulder at one end thereof extending downwardly therefrom and a transversely extending shoulder at the other end thereof extending downwardly therefrom.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 223,052 12/1879 Mack 238283 2,324,993 7/ 1943 Kubaugh. 2,670,136 2/1954 Moses 238283 2,750,118 6/1956 Hastings et a1 238- 2,867,384 1/1959 Toulmin 238-283 FOREIGN PATENTS 662,004 4/1963 Canada.

932,095 11/1947 France. 1,118,517 3/1956 France.

865,119 4/1961 Great Britain.

528,544 2/1955 Italy.

OTHER REFERENCES Track Handbook, published by Railroad Rubber Products Inc., copyright 1954, p. 1, section II relied on.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

LEO QUACKENBUSH, Examiner.

M. I. HILL, R. A. BERTSCH, Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN COMBINATION: A TRACTION RAIL HAVING A BASE FLANGE; A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR SAID TRACTION RAIL; A PREFORMED RESILIENT PAD BETWEEN SAID TRACTION RAIL AND SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, SAID RESILIENT PAD BEING OF UNITARY CONSTRUCTION AND HAVING A RAIL BASE FLANGE-RECEIVING CAVITY IN ITS UPPER SURFACE FOR RECEIVING THE BASE FLANGE OF SAID RAIL, THE FLANGE-RECEIVING CAVITY BEING DEFINED BY A PAIR OF LIPS ON SAID PAD OVERLYING THE MARGINAL PORTIONS OF THE BASE FLANGE OF SAID RAIL, A VERTICAL WALL EXTENDING UPWARDLY ALONG EACH OF THE MARGINAL EDGES OF THE MARGINAL PORTIONS OF THE BASE FLANGE, AND A UNITARY BASE PORTION UNDERLYING THE BASE FLANGE, THE FLANGE-RECEIVING CAVITY BEING DEFINED BY A PAIR OF LIPS ON SAID PAD WHICH EXTEND UPWARDLY TO SAID LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GROOVE, A VERTICAL WALL EXTENDING DOWNWRDLY FROM THE LOWER PORTION OF EACH OF SAID LIPS, AND A UNITARY BASE PORTION, SAID BASE PORTION HAVING UPPER AND LOWER PLANAR SURFACES AND SAID VERTICAL WALLS BEING CONNECTED AT THEIR LOWER END TO THE BASE PORTION AND AT THEIR UPPER ENDS 